Safety Message from DeKalb Superintendent

Superintendent/CEO Dr. R. Stephen Green Shares Message to Parents

DeKalb County School District (DCSD) supports the First Amendment right of its students to free speech. Concurrently, the district takes seriously its responsibility to protect students and support student achievement.

As the U.S. mourns the victims of the tragedy that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and districts around the country are dealing with a rash of social media threats.

DCSD takes every threat seriously and thoroughly investigates each one to determine the validity of the threat and to identify the perpetrator.

The district reminds parents and students to review our Social Media Guideline, which can be found here. This document contains helpful tips for responsible social media behavior.

Below is a video message from R. Stephen Green, superintendent/CEO, that discusses the safety of our campuses, and the district’s desire to support its students. Below the video is a letter from the superintendent/CEO, in English and Spanish, that was distributed to parents on Feb. 22.

February 22, 2018

Dear parents,

Students across the nation, including some of our own students, have staged peaceful protests in response to the Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy in Florida and the discussion around gun control legislation during the past few days.

We can expect similar demonstrations in the days ahead, including national protests set for March 14, March 24 and April 20.

The DeKalb County School District supports students’ Constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free expression. However, our top priority is to support the academic and social emotional needs of our students while maintaining a safe and orderly environment for all students and staff. We also respect those students who choose not to participate in these planned events.

If a student walkout or protest happens in one of our schools, we will allow the students to peacefully protest. We encourage our students to be respectful. Please understand that the Student Code of Conduct remains in place and will be enforced during these times. We will not tolerate behavior that disrupts school operations or threatens the safety and order of our schools.

It can be a teachable moment where students can demonstrate their First Amendment right to be heard, knowing there are natural consequences to civil disobedience.

If your child is feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to your school administrator for support and guidance. We are here for our students and families during this turbulent time in our society.

Thank you for your continued support of your district and your school.

DeKalb County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities, and provides equal access to the Boys Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies including Title IX: Marissa Key,
Interim Chief Legal Officer, Office of Legal Affairs | P. 678.676.0181